Panama`s Tranquil Island Escape Amid Explosive

Mercury
Rising
Panama’s Tranquil Island Escape
Amid Explosive Tuna Fishing
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CAPTAIN STEVE DOUGHERTY
Turn at Marker #78 off of the ICW and motor up the
canal to the Cape Coral Yacht Basin. Welcome to
Paradise! The Yacht Basin provides transient and
annual wet slips for boats up to 50’. Boating on the
ICW or out to the Gulf of Mexico is a breeze. The
marina is a friendly place to enjoy the culture of
boating. It is well protected and secure.
Marina services include: electric and potable water;
wet slips; racquetball courts and tennis courts; an
Olympic class swimming pool; the only beach in Cape
Coral; and a restaurant and fuel dock are steps to a
600 foot fishing pier. When traveling to Southwest
Florida be sure to stop and spend some time with us!
SOME JOBS COME WITH PERKS...a company car, tickets
to the playoffs, stock options, four-day workweeks. Though, I
somehow stumbled into a career that enables me to see things
many will never see while traversing the furthest stretches of
open water with only a few close colleagues for company. And
through my travels nothing compares to what I’ve seen across
the fertile waters surrounding the rugged coast of Panama.
Nearly 10 years ago I visited the Republic
Islands evoke a unique feeling of simplicity
of Panama to write a destination piece for this
and isolation no matter their size, surround-
very publication. It was one of my first interna-
ing or development. And while they all share
tional assignments as an editor and the experi-
the defining feature of being encompassed by
ence enlightened me to the legendary fisheries
water, Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge on Isla
that exist across the expansive Pacific Ocean.
Parida offers more than one could ever imag-
I was fresh out of school and already thought
your port
port of
of entry
entry to
to providenciales,
providenciales, turks
turks ++ caicos
caicos
your
ine being so far off the beaten path.
I had seen it all. But after spending a week of
Originally built as a family vacation home,
solitude on a private island paradise I was fully
the remote retreat has since evolved into a
convinced the various species found through-
traveling angler’s paradise. Resting 12 miles
out these unspoiled waters were stronger,
offshore, Isla Parida is the closest base of
smarter, larger and more damaging to tackle
operations for anglers fishing the legendary
than any location in the world.
Hannibal Bank, and the largest island with-
Almost a decade later with a now ink-
239-574-0809 · capecoral.net
in the Chiriquí National Marine Sanctuary.
soaked passport, I’m watching the sunrise
Mere words and photos alone cannot paint
on that same dreamy island in the Gulf of
an accurate picture, but the cozy jungle lodge
Chiriquí sipping coffee with Captain Shane
features amenities to accommodate up to eight
Jarvis and devising a game plan for the day.
guests including a private chef, Wi-Fi, air con-
With a cast of proven journeymen includ-
ditioning and hot water. However, even though
ing Captain Bill Wichcrowski from Deadli-
you can connect to the Internet, you are still
est Catch, Raymond Douglas of King Sailfish
very much off the grid and immersed in the
Mounts, and Scott Ruperchet of Pacific Fins
dense jungle with exotic hardwood canopies
TurtleCove
CoveMarina
Marinafeatures
features65
65deep
deepwater
waterslips
slipsand
and
Turtle
fulldockside
docksideservices
servicesincluding
includingcable
cabletv,
tv,free
freewifi,
wifi,
full
water,power,
power,gas
gasand
anddiesel.
diesel.Our
Ourprime
primelocation
location
water,
offersaccess
accessto
tothe
themost
mostnearby
nearbyamenities
amenitiesof
ofany
any
offers
marinaininthe
theTCI
TCIwith
withhotels,
hotels,restaurants,
restaurants,diving,
diving,car
car
marina
rentals,tour
touroperators
operatorsand
andmore,
more,all
allright
rightoff
offthe
the
rentals,
dock--just
juststeps
stepsaway
awayfrom
fromyour
yourslip!
slip!Call
Callus
uson
onVHF
VHF
dock
16and
andwe’ll
we’llbe
bethere
thereto
towelcome
welcomeyou
youwith
withour
our
16
complimentaryMarina
MarinaGuide
GuideBoat.
Boat.
complimentary
Guatemala, I knew this trip orchestrated by
148
Ozzy Delgado of Grundéns was going to be
one to remember. We were isolated in a remote jungle escape for a week and couldn’t
be more content with the current situation.
FLORIDA SPORT FISHING
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge
redefines roughing it on a deserted
island. Comfortable amenities
in the vicinity of epic big game
fishing leave little to be desired.
149
(649) 941.3781
941.3781 •• [email protected]
[email protected] ••
(649)
www.turtlecovemarina.com •• follow
follow us
us 

www.turtlecovemarina.com
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and palm tree lined beaches edged in volca-
development of Sport Fish Panama Island
here are rich in plankton and forage, and the
nic rock. Besides a few small trails, the jun-
Lodge has recently set the fishing industry
prolific predators that surround the seamount
gle growth is impenetrable.
The lodge is amazing, right where you would
on fire. Here, a full day of fishing is actually
in astounding numbers are mesmerizing to even
a full day of fishing.
the most world-traveled scientists.
least expect it. And with the absence of mari-
Although two of the area’s main angling at-
From extensive acoustic seabed mapping
nas and infrastructure along a majority of the
tractions are Isla Coiba, the largest island in
studies we know the bank ranges in depth
Panamanian coastline, fishing these unspoiled
Central America, and Isla Montuosa, where the
from 170 feet to just over 1,300 feet. The
waters can be a major undertaking otherwise.
dense landmass rises from 10,000-foot depths,
broad area it covers is roughly nine miles
Over the years there has been a variety
our late July trip was focused on the world-fa-
long and four and a half miles wide, featur-
of sport fishing developments in the area
mous Hannibal Bank. And for good reason. The
ing extensive zones of slopes, crests, gullies
including mainland and mothership opera-
tuna bite here is often wide open with chaot-
and pinnacles. Detailed topographic maps
tions, eco-lodges and boutique hotels, but
ic frenzies unfolding daily as ruthless game fish
display two extreme pinnacles to the north
with long runs required to reach the grounds,
attack from below and screeching birds crash
most have come and gone. Shane’s offshore
from above. There may be no better spot in
island escape puts anglers as close as it gets
the world to target 100+ pound yellowfin tuna.
to some of the best fishing in the world. And
Named after the USS Hannibal that discov-
with much of the area remaining largely un-
ered the area while performing survey work for
explored due to its remote location, the
the development of the Panama Canal, Hannibal Bank is an underwater seamount that is so
Many “fish of a lifetime” have
been taken off Panama’s Gulf
of Chiriquí and the region has
become one of the world’s top
sport fishing destinations.
significant its existence actually modifies localized hydrographic conditions. The resulting
fisheries and conditions are unique to the area.
Furthermore, the ocean currents that collide
Islands evoke a unique
feeling of simplicity
and isolation no matter
their size, surrounding
or development.
north-flowing Columbia Current and the westward Equatorial Undercurrent abruptly hitting
the area, my theory of fish growing stronger
and larger here might be substantiated given
and southeast of the bank that have sheer
drop-offs of nearly 400 feet.
There may be no
better spot in the
world to target 100+
pound yellowfin tuna.
the epic biomass recorded day in and day out.
Panama has long been associated with in-
across numerous tuna frenzies each and every
credible blue and black marlin fishing, but yel-
day. We hooked tuna on surface poppers, live
and surrounding pinnacles are heavily influ-
lowfin tuna are available year-round, with peak
bait, cut chunks, fly and subsurface soft plastic
enced by an interaction with nutrient-rich up-
season April to August. This is when fish well
lures at the Hannibal Bank and along porpoise
wellings bringing deep water to the surface.
over 100 pounds and encounters with fish
schools in open water. While every method
eclipsing 200 pounds are a real possibility. This
resulted in a screaming drag, catching tuna on
What’s more is this offshore seamount
With the south-flowing Panama Current, the
Hannibal Bank's incredible tuna
fishery is remarkable due to the
unique bathymetry dominated by
pronounced undersea structure.
year alone Shane captured cow yellowfin tuna
poppers cast into boiling surface water is more
in the 200- and 300-pound class.
fun than any angler should be allowed to have.
Over the course of our time offshore we came
The fishing here is world-class and the
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152
153
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FLORIDA SPORT FISHING
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2016
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bartering ice, fuel, bait and fishing information.
straight out of the storyboard of Jurassic Park.
After five straight days on the water we had
Without risk there is no reward and travel-
all surpassed species-specific big fish goals.
ing from Miami to the island lodge requires two
The tuna bite was as good as it gets and the
flights and an hour boat ride. It's feasible in a
inshore fishing was icing on the cake. Trolling
day, but any hiccup along the way and you’ll
live baits along rugged shorelines and ripping
likely miss the connecting flight, requiring an
Hannibal Bank is no secret, but for the most
poppers through turbulent waters resulted in
overnight in Panama City or David.
part you’ll be on your own. The Panamanian
savage attacks from bluefin trevally, monster
The sun in Panama is harsh, daytime temps
government banned large longlining operations
houndfish, roosterfish, rock snapper, horseye
extreme, and no see-ums highly visible. How-
and purse seiners, with the local panga fleet
jack and cubera snapper.
ever, with all-inclusive packages covering every
Our live baits were pulverized and bright-
detail, adventurous anglers who are willing to
While the locals have been plying these waters
ly colored plugs reduced to paintless pieces
immerse themselves can expect intimate expe-
for their entire lives, in just a few years Shane
of plastic. As cliché as it is, the rugged land-
riences with some of the most powerful fish in
has developed a great rapport by sharing and
scape and prowling game fish found here are
all of the world’s oceans. Paradise awaits.
the only commercial harvesters in the area.
FOR OVER 18 YEARS
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Notes of Interest
Official Name: Republic of Panama
Capital: Panama City
Population: 3,678,000
ISLA PARIDA
PANAMA
Panama City
Made in USA
Area: 30,193 sq. mi.
Weather: Panama has two distinct
seasons. The dry season stretches from
January through April and the wet
season from May through December.
Language: Spanish is the official
language, but many Panamanians
speak English.
Currency: While the Panamanian
Balboa is recognized as the currency,
U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere.
Gulf of
Panama
Golfo de
Chiriqui
Contact
Beacher’s Lodge Rules:
Captain Shane Jarvis–fishpanamatoday.com
A vacation the whole family can enjoy. Great fishing, boating, history, shopping and much more when you visit the
Nation’s Oldest City. Enjoy your beach home away from home, stay the night at Beacher’s Lodge Oceanfront Suites.
Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge
Relax, Unwind , Enjoy
BeachersLodge.com
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